Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1913 — GUEST BOOKS MADE COSTLY [ARTICLE]

GUEST BOOKS MADE COSTLY

Really Attractive Idea Liable to Be Source of Serious inroads Upon the Average Purse. A charming modern fancy is found in the guest book. Its adoption has arisen from the cost of entertaining, for in most country houses the week end is an institution. No doubfttte motor had a good deal to do with the fashion, for in remote places whene visitors used to be few and far between, friends are now cordially welcomed. Guests set their wits to work to find a few original words of greeting, for the old fashioned sentiments that were wont to decorate country hotel albums are not suited to the occasion. Vellum is the latest binding to find favor, and this year some exquisite workmanship and designing have been lavished on thes4 useful books. Tomes large and ponderous are displayed where entertaining is done on a big scale, and for the modest but charming cottage op quaint old hall there are moderately sized books bound in vellum richly Illuminated with scarlet, blue and gold, and fastened with leather thongs. Some designers choose their inspirations from old missals; others select margined volumes of a couple of centuries ago, and there is also a leaning to the beauties of Italian renaissance workmanship. Tooled leather is often favored, some of the models offered being exceptional in their designs, as well as in the way in which the work is executed.